Chapter 38 *** Gunshot ***

[ CHAPTER THEME SONG:
Lovely By Billie Eillish ]

[ BLAKE'S POV ]

Sirens of ambulance were buzzing in the air. People ran through the corridors as I stayed numb at a corner. She was shot one time in her stomach. Her lung was barely touched by the bullet but she was still in dangerous. The doctor said that they couldn't say anything unless 48 hours passed.

All my thoughts, consciousness were acting like a vacant pool without any resources inside. I couldn't memorize the moment that I had went through just a while back. She actually saved me! Saved my life but killed her nearly.

Why Veronica? Why? I am not worthy of anything. I couldn't protect the two women of my life whom I was in love with.

Guilt consumed my body as I began to shake in helplessness. Perhaps I was the one who got shot and she could live her life without anymore troubles. I had already maiden her life enough hell and miserable.

Hasty footsteps echoed through the corridor as Asher rushed at the place. Appearing extremely anxious, he spoke between his pants,
" Where is she? Where is Veronica?"

I breathed a single word without meeting his eyes as I was feeling too guilty this time,
" O.T."

Asher swallowed hard and stole a glimpse of red bulbe hanging outside. His breathing got caught slightly as he charged forward me and grabbed my collars. Shouting at my face, he groaned in rage through speaking,
" I told you repeatedly that don't leave the damn house this days. But you never listened to me. Now, look what have you done to her? If anything happens to Veronica, I will kill you by my own hands, Blake. Trust me! "

I will kill myself! You don't have to do that.

I told myself eternally and brought my eyes on him. Sighing erratically, I informed in an ironic voice,
" It was Luther Michael. I saw him through the window and I am sure of it."

Asher's expression turned serious as he spoke with a tight frown,
" Are you sure that it was him?"

I nodded affirmatively and replied in an assured voice,
" I am sure! I saw him with my own eyes. But the gunshot was meant for me not Veronica."

Asher looked surprised as he questioned again furrowing harder,
" What grudges you both have? "

I sighed memorizing the incident in my head and explained him shortly,
" Few years ago when I wasn't even married, they tried to expand their influence on B Nation. Since I am the top figure of B Nation, news came onto me very first. To prevent further harming on our business, I convinced others to join me and blocked their way of entering into the business world of B nation. Ever since they started targetting me but never succeeded because I had people to safeguard me always. Later on, they were silent for another good years and then Victoria's missing incident happened."

Asher took a note of everything and spoke with a hint of jealousy in his voice,
" So you are telling that Veronica was shot while Saving you?"

I nodded, watching his face to sank but he managed to retain his calm state considering the matter of urgency. I pretended to be indifferent on surface. It wasn't time to make him jealous. We both wanted Veronica back safe and sound.

Asher informed before heading outside to make phone calls,
" Let me find the CCTV footage of that street. If Luther is seen in that footage, we will use legal threat to capture him in attempt to murder case. If it gets succeded, I am assuming that we will find about Victoria's whereabouts too."

I nodded my head expectantly and travelled my eyes towards the red bulb again. Veronica was still in O.T. I was feeling like my soul was there but my body was standing at that place.

**********************
Two hours passed away within a blink. Veronica was taken out of O.T and had been sent to I.C.U for 48 hours observation. The doctor wasn't still sure about her condition. They needed time to observe her health and only after 48 hours, they could give us final statement of her condition.

I looked through the window and watched her pale face sleeping soundly. Her skin turned pale and lifeless. I felt my heart wrenching at her sight. I placed my hand over the window as if I was touching her and uttered under my breath pleadingly,
" Come back to me, baby. We still have a long way to go. You can't just leave me alone like that."

Asher's voice on the phone came in my back. I turned around to look at his anxious expression. He seemed very concerned and stopped pausing in front of me.

He started speaking in a serious voice,
" We have managed to capture the CCTV footage. Someone tried to destroy the evidence but our team reached faster. Then that person tried to run away and got caught by my team. We are assuming that he is a part of Luther's gang. Unfortunately Luther wasn't the one who shot Veronica directly. There was someone else who shot her from front seat. His face couldn't be seen because of long distance. He aimed very cunningly so that he can't be seen in camera. But here's a point. If the person who had been caught gives his statement and assures us that Luther was the one who asked to kill you or Veronica, we can use legal threat to hunt down his empire. In that case, all the Military troops would be agreeing to help me out in this mission."

I breathed in relax slightly and insisted,
" I would like to come with you when you interrogate the person. I want to hear few words from him."

Asher compelled before urging me,
" Then let's go now. Veronica is resting and you won't be needed here. I don't know for how long we will have that man alive. It is best that we inquir him as soon as possible."

I nodded with understanding and followed him outside of the hospital. As we hopped into the car, Asher suddenly asked me in a cold voice,
" Blake, what were you two doing for so long in the car? Sorry, I saw it inside the footage."

My body stiffened a little after his questions. Looking away awkwardly, I replied with a fake shrug,
" Veronica was in bad mood today and argued with me for no reason. She insisted on staying under the rain and didn't want to return with me. I was persuading her to come back. You know, women are basically very stubborn."

He hummed without asking anymore and started the engine.

[ THIRD PERSON'S POV ]

They both arrived at the nearest military house fast. Coming down from the car, Blake noticed that the area was strictly guarded. More than fifty men was guarding around a small house. Asher increased the security system due to past incident that happened in the speed boat. He didn't want to loose this evidence at any cost.

Entering into the room, Blake discovered an young man at his late twenties. He suddenly wandered how Luther actually managed to brainwash this young people. Most of her men were so young and wise.

The man was tied against a chair and two military men was pointing their riffles at him. Asher approached first following by Blake whose blood ran warm when he saw the man. He wanted to punish everyone who had harmed Veronica.

Asher started his conversation with a slap and asked taking the chair in front of him,
" Tell me, who asked you to destroy the evidence?"

The man was silent and refused to speak anything. Asher roared once again stomping on his feet angrily,
" Answer me unless you will die here."

The man muttered keeping his eyes stuck on the floor,
" No..one..I came on my own.."

Blake lost his patience this time. Without taking Asher's permission, he pulled out the gun from his grip and shot few times on the man's leg relentlessly.

Few bullets digged through his skin and warm blood flowed out drenching his clan pants. Howling in pain, the man began to cry instantly. His both legs were shot and he was aching terribly.

Blake's ruthless voice echoed in the room coldly,
" Tell me the name or else you are going to loose your legs for eternity. Think about it. You will be a living dead without your legs. If you answer us correctly,we will recuperate your wounds as soon as possible.

The man refused to talk and continued howling in pain. Asher pressed one of his feet on his wound and pressed until the wound started bleeding harder. Another round of pain ran through the man's body who cried harder throwing his head back and soon started to beg for mercy.

He sobbed before begging desperately to let him go,
" Please.. Please... don't hurt me..I don't know anything..I was asked to erase those footages...I really.. ahhh..."

Asher pressed harder worsening his newly gotten wound and demanded in a merciless voice,
" Name!!! We want the name for you.."

The man whimpered jumping like a fly in pain and breathed one name weakly,
" Luther... Luther Michael.."